You’ll notice that I chose mostly to highlight just certain aspects of the aircraft depicted rather than displaying the entire machine. Remember my photographic Rule of Implied Recognition? This rule works very well at piquing interest on a number of levels, but it works particularly well when the intended audience are familiar with the subject.

Tupolev TU-2

Here the intended audience are employees of the Federal Aviation Administration, and many of them are air traffic controllers who see and work aircraft practically every day of their professional lives. They don’t want to see stock photos of whole aircraft. They want something more intrinsically artistic than that, especially since many are avid aviation buffs with an extensive knowledge of aircraft. For instance, this shot is probably boring to an aviation buff:

F-84F Thunder Streak

Whereas something like this shot leaves them wondering at least a little: